Meet Amy Ausman of Furry Belly Deli in Fullerton

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Ausman.

So, before we jump into specific questions about the business, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
We started our shop out of love and necessity for our cat Lewis. My Husband and I were adopted by this sweet outdoor only, who became mostly indoor kitty when we moved to Fullerton. We had a nightly routine of treats when we would come home from work. Lewis would go to his cupboard and paw, I would give him a few treats and we had this routine for years. When he was 15, he was diagnosed with kidney failure. All of the commercial treats available for cats were either too high in protein, sodium or fillers, so I started researching and baking for treats for Lewis. In doing so, I met a lot of people that had pets with food allergies/sensitivities and health issues, so I expanded into treats for cats and dogs. I had always had a love for baking and a dream of opening a store for pets, so when the opportunity came for a store front, I knew it was meant to be. At Furry Belly Deli, we specialize in natural, organic and raw treats for cats and dogs. We offer all natural, human grade Cakes, Kitty Cakes, Cookies and more. We can personalize, customize and create treats specifically for your pet’s needs. We also host adoption events with local rescues and participate with rescue fundraiser year-round. While Lewis passed last year in August, the love and memories for him live on in what we continue to do every day.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We have definitely not had a smooth road and plenty of struggles, but we stay strong. Before we opened Furry Belly Deli I was involved in life changing accident. I was in the middle of a crosswalk when a driver ran through a red light and struck me going about 45mph. The driver only stopped once she realized she hit me, then took off. I was taken to UCI and managed to walk away from the accident with little physical damage. I was diagnosed with PTSD after the accident, but Lewis and my husband stayed constant in support, comfort and in my recovery. I still have struggles, but my dogs and the furry little faces that come to our store make my day and what we do so worthwhile. I came to realize life is short and can be taken at any time, so do what you love and love what you do.

Please tell us about Furry Belly Deli.
We make and sell natural, organic and raw treats for cats and dogs. Most of the lines we carry in our shop, (food, toys, leashes/collars, accessories) are made by small businesses, family owned or work with/give back to charities). A lot of items in our shop are earth friendly, biodegradable and made from recycled materials. I feel smaller and family ran businesses put a lot of focus and detail into their products as do we, and being a small business, we are all about supporting other small business. I feel most proud when our customers send us pics of their happy pets, or if we make a recommendation that becomes the solution. We strive for health, happiness and harmony with everyone we meet. I personally use everything we carry in our shop. We know everyone’s needs are different so we try get to know you and your pet personally, to make recommendations or referrals. We aren’t trying to sell our customers anything. If we don’t have what you’re looking for, we are more than happy to help you find it or special order it.

Do you look back particularly fondly on any memories from childhood?
My pets! We had dogs, cats, horses and birds. I always looked forward to going home after school to seeing all of them. My sister and I were responsible for feeding, walking and cleaning up after all of our pets. We learned responsibility for caring after our pets at an early age and my mom never did it for us. I remember my 5th grade science project was on cat food. My fondest memories are the snuggles.

Contact Info:

• Address: Furry Belly Deli
  106 1/2 N. Harbor Blvd.,
  Fullerton, CA 92832
• Website: www.furrybellydeli.com
• Phone: 657-217-1566
• Email: [email protected]
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/furrybellydeli
• Facebook: m.facebook.com/pages/Furry-Belly-Deli
• Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/delifurry
• Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/furry-belly-deli-fullerton

Image Credit:
Mary Siani

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